Development and Exploitation of a Poloidal Correlation Reflectometer for Turbulence Studies H/F

The French Institute for Magnetic Fusion Research (IRFM), located at CEA Cadarache, operates the WEST tokamak, an internationally recognized fusion device capable of sustaining plasma discharges for more than 1,000 seconds.

This postdoctoral position is part of a three-year collaborative project led by the Plasma Physics Laboratory (LPP) at École Polytechnique and involving German partners. The project aims to investigate density fluctuation dynamics and the role of plasma flows in the saturation of turbulence by comparing measurements performed on the WEST tokamak and the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator.

The successful candidate will contribute to the development and scientific exploitation of a new microwave diagnostic on WEST: a poloidal correlation reflectometer dedicated to probing the plasma core. This diagnostic will complement the existing Doppler reflectometry system, allowing multi-scale characterization of plasma turbulence and providing new insight into the dispersion relations of the instabilities governing turbulent transport.

The work will include:

• Publishing scientific results in peer-reviewed journals and presenting them at international conferences. d’ITER et d’un futur réacteur de fusion, en particulier au regard de la dimension nucléaire.
• Contributing to the design and upgrade of the existing core reflectometer to enable poloidal correlation measurements;
• Participating in the implementation of the associated control system;
• Developing, testing and applying advanced data processing tools;
• Analyzing fluctuation and correlation measurements and comparing the results with theoretical predictions;
• Building databases for systematic turbulence studies;

The successful candidate should hold a PhD in plasma physics, microwave engineering, electrical engineering, physics or a closely related field.

The ideal candidate will have:

A high level of autonomy, organizational skills and the ability to report scientific progress effectively.

A solid background in plasma physics and/or microwave diagnostics;

Experience in time-frequency signal processing;

Strong Python programming skills for scientific data analysis, including the use of AI-based analysis packages;

Good analytical and problem-solving abilities;

Excellent communication and teamwork skills within an international collaborative environment;